SUV

Cupra will get a new more affordable entry-point to its range ahead of major 2025 reshuffle.

Another electric car brand is headed to Australia this year.Smart is back after exiting our shores about a decade ago. Gone are the micro cars of the first instalment and in their place are a range of city-focused electric cars produced by a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz and Geely in China.The Smart #1 and Smart #3 are confirmed to arrive in Australia in the third quarter of this year.The #1 and #3 are built on the same platform but the #1 is a conventionally shaped compact SUV and the #3 is a coupe-style SUV of the same size.Both use a 66kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers a driving range of up to 440km on a single charge.They use a single electric motor that sends 200kW and 343Nm to the rear wheels.An all-wheel-drive performance version wearing the Brabus badge is available overseas.Smart hasn’t revealed prices yet but it’s expected to have an entry price that is highly competitive with current non-premium EV offerings of similar size.This could point to a circa-$50,000 starting point to match the BYD Atto 3.The Smart #1 is a conventionally shaped compact SUV.Smart has set up its own operations in Australia and will sell the vehicles through LSH Auto Australia, a network of dealers in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane that currently distribute Mercedes-Benz products.Global Chief Marketing Officer of Smart Mandy Zhang said the brand is planning a global expansion.“The Australian market holds significant potential for growth, and with LSH Auto Australia’s extensive local resources and expertise, we are excited to join hands,” said Zhang.The Federal Government’s new National Vehicle Efficiency Standard is a big reason for Smart re-entering our market.Under the new legislation car brands will be fined for every vehicle they sell that emit CO2 over a certain level, which will make petrol and diesel cars more expensive and EVs more competitive.Smart is the latest of many EV brands out of China to announce its headed our way.This includes GAC, Leapmotor, Skywell, Xpeng and Zeekr.Geely has a wide portfolio of electric cars. It owns Volvo and Polestar, which are both available in Australia, and its Zeekr brand will be here by the end of the year.

The Nissan Patrol is an evergreen offering in the Australian large SUV/4WD market with dedicated fans loving its comfort, off-road ability and effortless naturally-aspirated V8 performance. Mark Oastler has been spending time with the Warrior Ti, a more adventurous locally re-engineered model, to see how it stacks up as day-to-day family transport.

Chery’s Tiggo 8 Pro Max is the brand’s first seven-seat SUV offering in Australia, and the Ultimate grade is the top-spec version, and the only all-wheel-drive variant.

The incoming Kia Tasman could find itself fighting more than just the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max, with the brand in Australia putting its hand up for a ladder-frame SUV version to battle the Ford Everest and LandCruiser Prado.

The Tesla Model Y electric SUV has been a roaring success. It’s the world’s and Australia’s best selling battery-powered car by a wide margin.In 2023, Australians bought more than 28,000 of the electric mid-size SUV and this year it is on track to beat that number with more than 8000 finding a new home through the first four months this year.Its stablemate Model 3 sedan received some pretty significant updates late last year before going on sale at the start of this year and it's likely the Model Y is due for a major facelift too.This is what we know so far about the updated Tesla Model Y.What will power the 2025 Tesla Model YIt’s likely the Model Y will use the same batteries and electric motors as the current version.Tesla is notoriously mysterious with the mechanical details of its vehicles so we never know exactly what’s underneath, but we know the rough numbers.The Standard Range will use a circa-60kWh battery while Long Range and Performance variants will be fitted with a roughly 80kWh pack.The Model 3 – which shares many components with the Model Y – had its aerodynamics finessed to make it as slippery as possible. The Model Y would be inline for similar tweaks that will help extend its range.Expect improvements in driving range of the Model Y Standard from 455km to 470km and the Long range from 533km to about 550km.Tesla doesn’t quote power outputs either but our understanding is the current Standard Range uses a single rear mounted motor making about 220kW and 420Nm sent to the rear wheels.Long Range variants add another motor on the front for all-wheel drive, which lifts outputs to about 286kW and 510Nm reportedly.These figures are unlikely to change.Improved suspension is on the cards, too. The Model 3 scored revised bushings, new front knuckles, frequency-selective dampers and better body baffling to improve the ride quality and reduce noise.Tesla will change the steering ratio to help improve how the car drives, too.Expect the Performance variant (imaged here) to follow the lead of the model 3, with a more significant overhaul to its driving dynamics with adaptive dampers and aero changes likely.What will the 2025 Tesla Model Y look like?Expect similar styling tweaks to the upgraded Model 3 due to the pair’s similarities.This means new slick, thinner headlights and a sharper looking front bumper with added aerodynamic features as seen in the render at the top of the story.There should be T-E-S-L-A lettering on the tailgate and revised rear bumpers and tail lights. The overall silhouette will remain the same as that egg-shape is what gives the car an aerodynamic advantage.It’ll likely have a new rear diffuser and lower rolling resistance tyres to again improve driving range.Inside there might be a few changes, too.Tesla deleted the indicator and gear selector stalk from the steering wheel in the updated Model 3 so those changes will probably make it to the Model Y.Expect indicators to be operated via a button on the steering wheel and the gear selector moved to the central multimedia screen.An eight-inch touchscreen is likely to be added to the second row at the back of the centre console to access rear seat climate controls and entertainment functions.Interior ambient lighting with up to 200 colours is on the cards, too.How much will the 2025 Tesla Model Y cost?This seems to change month by month. Tesla has dropped the price of the current Model Y three times since the start of April and it's anyone’s guess if the company will up it or drop it again in the short, medium or long termCurrently the Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant is priced at $55,900 (before on-road costs) and the Long Range AWD and Performance AWD start at $69,900 and $82,990.Expect a price rise of a few thousand across the range initially at least.When will the 2026 Tesla Model Y go on sale?It is likely the Model Y will follow the same path as the Model 3 with a reveal later this year. Expect the new version to go on sale at the start of 2025 for the Standard and Long Range variants.The Model Y Performance should arrive by the middle of 2025.

Chery’s Tiggo 8 Pro Max is its mid-size seven seat SUV, which competes with mainstream rivals like the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, and Honda CR-V.

Kia is bringing the EV3 small electric SUV, its most affordable EV yet, to Australia in 2025.The South Korean brand debuted the Seltos-sized electric SUV in Seoul with promises of a long driving range and plenty of high-tech features.President and CEO of Kia, Ho Sung Song, said the EV3 will reassure those hesitant about EVs to make the switch.“By providing groundbreaking design, an industry-leading electric drivetrain, and practical, innovative lifestyle solutions, the EV3 aims to extend Kia’s exceptional EV SUV experience to a wider audience. With a WLTP driving range of up to 600km and fast-charging capability, the EV3 addresses common concerns about electric vehicles,” he said.The EV3 follows the design of the large EV9 and coming mid-size EV5 with a boxy shape, short bonnet and dynamic LED lighting front and back.It is built on the company’s modular electric car platform that spawned the bigger models, but the EV3 will be front-wheel drive initially, not rear-wheel drive like the others.Kia executives said this makes the car lighter and is better suited to an entry-level SUV rather than the more performance-focused EV6 and EV9.It’ll be available with two battery sizes: a 58.3kWh unit and long-range 81.4kWh pack.The latter can deliver a range of up to 600km on a single charge. Kia hasn’t revealed the range of the smaller battery version.Power comes from a single 150kW/283Nm electric motor that can go from zero to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 170km/h.A vehicle-to-load function, that is found on Kia’s other EVs, is also present. This allows owners to power household appliances such as a laptop or electric cooker via a household powerpoint in the car.The company hinted it is aiming to price the EV3 between US$35,000 and US$50,000, which is about $50,000 and $75,000 in local currency.It is highly likely the entry-level version could slip in just below the $50,000 mark as Kia Australia is likely to start the bigger EV5 range at just below $60,000.It’s also unlikely the long-range version would top out at the maximum as it would create conflict with the EV5, too.Charging won't be as speedy as the bigger, more expensive models as it forgoes the 800-volt charging architecture in favour of a 400-volt set-up.This means the 350kW maximum rate of Kia’s other vehicles is unlikely. The company said it can replenish the batteries from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, which would put the charge rate at about 120kW.The EV3 should have a roomy interior that belies its compact size thanks to a boxy shape, a flat floor and a long wheelbase.It has a sizeable 460-litre boot and a small cargo area under the bonnet.A sliding table in the centre console can act as a desk when parked and the front seats have a relaxation mode that folds the chairs backwards.Inside, the EV3 has the same screen layout as the EV9, with a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen joined to a 5.0-inch climate control that is connected to a 12.3-inch digital driver display.A head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and safety warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver is also included.Kia has also developed a Generative AI digital assistant that can provide information searches, directions and control vehicle functions.

Kia has just revealed its new EV3, the brand’s most affordable electric car yet.The company also confirmed a red-hot dual-motor GT version will join the line-up at a later date.Initially the Kia Seltos-sized EV3 will be available with a single electric motor sending 150kW and 283Nm to the front wheels.The EV3 GT will add a second motor at the rear to deliver all-paw grip.Kia hasn’t revealed outputs for the GT variant, but if it follows the same formula as the larger EV6 GT it could more than double the performance of the front-wheel drive model.This would put it at more than 300kW and 500Nm.The single motor EV3 can hit 100km/h from a standstill in 7.5 seconds, with the EV3 GT possibly dropping into the four second range.Kia’s electric GT models aren’t just about raw power and come with a range of hardware updates to elevate their sporty character.The EV6 GT has bigger, stronger brakes, uprated suspension, sport focused driving modes including a customisable setting, a steering tune to make it more decisive and agile and multi stage stability control settings.It gets some cosmetic tweaks too, with snug fitting GT bucket seats and neon green exterior highlights.Kia didn’t provide a date for the EV3 GT's release, but it is likely to land about a year after the standard vehicle, which is due to hit Australian showrooms in 2025.The EV3 Long Range is the most likely candidate to form the base for the GT.It has a big 81.4kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 600km in the single motor version. That number would drop significantly in an all-paw GT variant.The company hinted it is aiming to price the EV3 between US$35,000 and US$50,000, which is about $50,000 and $75,000 in local currency.Any GT variant would be at the top of the bracket or even pushed into the $80,000 range locally.Charging the EV3 won't be as speedy as the bigger, more expensive models as it forgoes the 800-volt charging architecture in favour of a 400-volt set-up.This means the 350kW maximum rate of Kia’s other vehicles is unlikely. The company said it can replenish the 81.4kWh battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, which would put the charge rate at about 120kW.

Toyota has launched its first EV for the Australian market, the futuristically-named bZ4X. It's only being offered in two variants and it's pitched against seasoned rivals in one of the most competitive market categories - mid-sized SUVs. How does it stack up?